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As part of our fifth anniversary celebrations, The Write Romantics considered five things we wish we’d known at the start or perhaps what we’d learned along the way.

I was going to do this alphabetically but I decided to go for a change. This is what our Northern-based WRs said and, because there are only four of us, I’ve added Wales into the mix. Enjoy!

Jessica xx

HELEN PHIFER:1. Publication Day is normally a bit of an anti climax. All the hard work doesn’t automatically make your book baby a best seller. It all takes time and can be quite a slow burn to move up the charts
2. You don’t always need an agent. There are publishers who you can submit to direct
3. The sleepless nights. If you’re not waking up to obsessively check your ranking, you’re lying awake trying to figure out plot holes
4. The fear that your book isn’t good enough the night before publication day
5. That halfway through your current work in progress you will get the best idea for a novel you’ve ever had. It will drive you insane because you’ll want to stop writing the story you’re half way through to write the next

That securing a publishing deal would not lead to success. When I started submitting, that deal, that validation was my absolute goal. If I got that, I’d have it made! The moment I got a three-book offer was incredible but, sadly, it didn’t deliver. The fall from that disappointment was quite a hard one although, looking back, it was very naïve of me to expect quite so much

That the reactions of friends and family would be so surprising. There have been those who were always going be an amazing support like my mum, but some support has come from surprising quarters and I appreciate it so much. However, I’ve also had absolute disinterest from those who I thought would genuinely be interested. I have to admit, that’s really hurt

Ideas can come unexpectedly, from a snippet of overheard conversation, from a lyric in a song, from an advert or a news article. Some will remain as seeds that will never grow but others will blossom into something quite amazing and unexpected. And that one of those sudden ideas (and also the quickest story I’ve ever written) would turn into my best-selling book (Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes). Five years ago, I hadn’t thought beyond my debut trilogy and worried that I wouldn’t have any other ideas. Thankfully, I was very wrong and another three releases post-trilogy plus six works-in-progress prove that!

That the biggest obstacle to making the most of this amazing and frustrating journey would be me. I’ve always been a confident person but my confidence and self-belief has taken such a hammering over the past few years and it’s mainly my fault because I can’t stop comparing myself to all the other amazing writers I’m surrounded by and wondering why I haven’t cracked it yet. Must stop comparing myself… Must stop comparing myself … Must stop …

That I’d get caught in a vicious circle. I need to pay the mortgage and bills so I need a day job. My day job pays well and I enjoy it but it’s demanding and leaves me little time to write. I need time to write but I can only do that if I cut back on the day job. I need to be making money from writing in order to cut back on the day job. To make money from writing, I need time to promote my books, raise my almost non-existent profile and write more books. If I had more time, this would mean I’ve cut back on my day job but that would mean I’ve got no money and I won’t be able to pay the mortgage… Hmm. Hamster in wheel spring to mind?

But, having said all of those things, I wouldn’t change being a writer for the world. The joy and satisfaction I get from creating my fictional world and from reading reviews from the few who find my work is worth the anguish. I couldn’t not write. It’s who I am.

ALYS WEST:5 things I wish I’d known 5 years ago:
1. That indie publishing would turn out to be the right option for me. It’s hard work but I love the independence, the control and ability to do things in my own time
2. You need your writing pals as only they understand the ups and downs of trying to make it as a writer
3. That there’s actual theory behind social media marketing which makes it all make sense
4. It takes a lot of time for a book to get noticed on Amazon
5. That feeling like a writer comes from lots of little things not one big ‘yes’ from an agent or publisher

That having a book published changes everything and changes nothing. The day your first book is released nothing seems quite real, and it’s a truly magical experience, but within hours life has moved on and things are going on just as they always do, and you’re back to thinking about the next book, and it all starts over again

That the fear never goes away – fear that you won’t be able to write anything ever again, fear that no one will like your next book, fear that you’ll run out of ideas or won’t be able to put the ideas you do scrape together down on paper in any form that others would want to read

That there are lots of wonderful people out there in the writing community who are only too happy to chat, offer advice, impart their wisdom and generally make life much easier, if you only have the courage to approach them

That a review is just one person’s opinion and you can’t take it to heart – whether it’s good or bad. The good reviews are lovely and, after all, we all need a boost to our flagging egos, but the bad ones are soul-destroying and set you up for all kinds of doubts and depression. Best take them all with a pinch of salt – unless they’re all saying the same thing, in which case maybe you should take heed!

That it’s perfectly normal to go through love-hate phases with your book. Often you start off loving it, and are really excited by the idea. Before long, though, you hate it and think it’s the worst thing you’ve ever written. Then, as you get towards the finishing line, your enthusiasm rises and you love it again. Then you finish the first draft and all your doubts come pouring back and you decide it’s only worth shredding. Then you send it off to your beta readers/editor and sit biting your nails. Hopefully they’ll love it so you can love it again, too – until you have to start work on edits and proofing and get sick to death of reading the dratted thing, at which point you could cheerfully delete the whole shebang and take up knitting. A few years later, you may well feel the urge to read it on your Kindle or pick up the paperback and, hopefully, you’ll be overawed by your talent, overjoyed by how much you love it, and thoroughly impressed that you managed to write something so incredible. Or something like that …

That it would actually happen, that the dream would come true and I would be published by Mills and Boon
2. That writing the second book was going to be so hard!
3. That not everybody is going to like what I write
4. That you have to juggle different stories in your head as you write one, edit another, prepare for publication of another, promote the latest release, and also allow next story to brew in your mind
5. That some days you will hate what you’ve written

Helen P introduced this to us as it’s her favourite saying and it is really apt for the Write Romantics. As you can see from these five insights so far, writing can be a tough old journey, with pot holes, dead ends, wrong-turns and disappointing destinations where that self-belief fades and even fizzles out completely but it can also be an amazing journey along smooth surfaces, surprising discoveries, and stunning views. We’ve been on that journey together and will continue to do so, supporting each other through the many highs and lows of being a writer.

The Write Romantics are an incredibly busy bunch at the moment, with releases springing up all over the place, drafts being finished, books being edited and so on, so I decided to be easy on them this month and not set too taxing a Wednesday Wondering. This month, I’ve simply asked: What are you currently reading and what are you planning to read next?

Over to the Write Romantics. I’ve included links with each of the books if you fancy bobbing on over to Amazon for a sneaky purchase.

Helen R says…

I’m currently reading Rowan Coleman’s ‘The Memory Book‘. I’m only a few chapters in but it’s a brilliant concept and the characters are so powerful. Already the book is tugging at my emotions and I’m hooked.

Next up is Lynne Pardoe’s ‘Please Adopt Me‘ and after reading a sample chapter last week I’m really looking forward to this book.

Alys says…

I often have a couple of books on the go at the same time but at the moment I’m up to four which is really a bit excessive. I’m reading our Lynne Pardoe’s ‘Please Adopt Me’, ‘The Lake of Dreams‘ by Kim Edwards which is a beautifully written story about a woman’s search for the truth about her family’s history, and ‘The Island‘ by Victoria Hislop which I’m finding slightly heavy going. I’m also reading ‘Geared Up‘ which is about how to write steampunk as I’m working on a steampunk novella at the moment. I really must get some of them finished as I’m struggling to remember what happens and if I’m not careful the plots will all start to blend into one and then I’ll be really confused!

Jo says…

I’ve just finished reading ‘Recipes for Melissa’ by Teresa Driscoll, which was published by Bookouture and I really enjoyed it. It tells the story, perhaps unsurprisingly, of a girl called Melissa whose long dead mother leaves her a recipe book on her twenty-fifth birthday, the recipes interspersed with advice about life and a few family secrets thrown in for good measure. Bookouture seem to be focusing on women’s fiction and romance with the kind of deeper themes I love reading about, thrown into the mix, so I’ll definitely be working my way through a few more of their titles.

At the moment, I’m reading ‘By My Side’ by Alice Peterson, published by Quercus. It’s another novel with deeper themes and perhaps tells a parallel version of the ‘Me Before You’ story, detailing the impact of a spinal injury, but with a much more positive twist and if you love a story involving a dog, then this is one for you!

Sharon says…

At the moment, I’m reading two books.

I’m halfway through Jo Bartlett’s People’s Friend pocket novel, ‘No Time for Second Best’ – which is fabulous, of course. Romance, beautiful setting, a sheep that would give Houdini a run for his money, and a donkey called Gerald. What’s not to love?

I’m also reading ‘Never Marry a Politician’ by Sarah Waights, which I’m really enjoying. It’s about a woman who married an up and coming politician on the rebound. She’s made a decent life for herself and is a respectable “career wife and mother”, having put her journalistic ambitions on the back burner to support her husband. Now an election is imminent and it’s never been more important to present the image of a happy, loving marriage, especially as a journalist is coming to stay to get the inside scoop on the everyday life of this perfect little political family. Unfortunately, the journalist is the ex she loved and lost. Needless to say, there are complications!

When I’ve finished those, I’m moving on to our own Rachael Thomas’s debut novel, ‘A Deal Before the Altar’, and I’m also going to be reading ‘The Yorkshire Shepherdess’ by Amanda Owen, the lady who featured on the television programme The Dales. Amanda married a sheep farmer and lives in a remote farm in Swaledale with her husband and their ever-growing flock of children. I’m looking forward to reading her story. Alongside those two, I’m going to tackle a biography of Boris Johnson. Yes, really. There is method in my madness. Trust me… 🙂

Helen P says…

At the moment I’m reading ‘The Lost Child’ by Ann Troup. It’s brilliant and I’m enjoying it immensely.

I have a really tough choice for my next book because all of my lovely Write Romantics are publishing books so fast that I can’t keep up but I’ve decided to go with ‘Searching for Steven’ by the lovely Jessica Redland 😊

Deirdre says…

I’m reading ‘Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts’ by Mary Gibson. I was drawn to this because it sold tremendously well for a debut novel and I wanted to see why, and I was intrigued by the title. Having spent 30 years in publishing, Mary took to novel writing in her retirement. She was born and brought up in Bermondsey, where the story is set, and drew on the lives of her grandparents for inspiration. ‘Custard Tarts’ was the name given to the girls who worked in the Pearce Duff custard and jelly factory at the beginning of the 20th century. The story centres round young Nellie Clark and her struggle to hold her family together after the death of her mother. The hardship and poverty among the families in the South London dockland area is described with truth and emotion, but also with humour, and there’s plenty of romance, too. I’m half way through, and World War I has just broken out, so clearly there’s more drama to come. It’s not difficult to see why ‘Custard Tarts’ is a best-seller. The easy style of the writing keeps the pages turning and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve just downloaded her next ‘factory girls’ book, ‘Jam and Roses’.

Because I’m reading this one on my Kindle, the next will be a paperback, as I don’t like to read solidly on the Kindle. Also I like to vary the kinds of books I read and try out different styles. If you’re writing yourself, I think it’s important to push the boundaries a bit and not read the same kinds of books all the time, otherwise you can never develop as a writer. I might read Ian McEwan’s ‘The Children Act’ next. For me, his writing is about the best there is. The book I’m really waiting for is Isabel Ashdown’s latest, ‘Flight’. I love her books, but I’m hoping the Kindle price will have come down a bit before I get there 😉

As for me, I’m currently reading ‘Letting in Light‘ by Emma Davies which is my book club choice for this month. I’m about a fifth of the way through so far so I can’t comment too much about the story. It had a great start with the heroine involved in a car crash and the hero coming to her aid. We then move forward in time and they encounter each other again, but there have been significant changes in both of their lives and I’m starting to discover what these are. Intriguing.

Next, I’m spoilt for choice. There are more Write Romantic books out and a few I still haven’t had an opportunity to read. I may read Lynne Pardoe’s next or I may read Rachael Thomas’s first novel, both of which have already been mentioned and linked. I’m also a bit spoilt for choice on my TBR pile which must have well over 100 physical books on it, never mind the ones on my Kindle. Yet I somehow keep adding to both piles! Oops!

What about you? What are you reading at the moment? You can click on ‘Comments’ at the end of the tags below to join in the conversation.